16 December 2021 will be marked as the 50th year of the liberation of Bangladesh and India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. To commemorate this landmark event in India’s history, Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations are being organised throughout the Country.
To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of India’s victory over Pakistan and to pay tributes to the 1971 war heroes, on 16 December 2020 one ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’; Victory Torch lit from the eternal flame of the National War Memorial Delhi was sent towards Eastern India with the aim of spreading awareness of the valour and indomitable spirit of Indian soldiers. This Mashaal after completing its journey of Eastern India on its return to New Delhi was received at Ranchi Military Station on 11 November 2021 with full military honours. The torch was received at the Jharkhand War Memorial with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm in the backdrop of military tunes being played by the Pipes and Drums band of the Army and in the presence of senior military officers of the Cockerel Division.
On 12 November 2021, the Victory Torch will be taken around prominent locations including Dipatoli. During the drive around the city, leaflets showcasing the valour and courage of our soldiers will be distributed amongst the youth of Ranchi.
In the commemorative events planned on 13 November 2021, Military bands alongwith various military weapons and equipment will be displayed for the students of schools as well as cadets of National Cadet Corps. On 14 November 2021, the Victory Torch will be flagged off from the Jharkhand War Memorial.
Under the aegis of Eastern Command and Gajraj Corps, an Indo-Bangladesh seminar was recently organised at Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati. It focused on Indo-Bangladesh relations, with particular reference to how North East India fits into the whole gambit of the Indo-Bangladesh relationship.
It aims at highlighting the similarities which the two nations share and the emerging opportunities wherein North East India, with Government of India’s ‘Act East’ policy, can become a big opportunity for Bangladesh as well.
(Inputs by Pratyusha Mukherjee)